Slovenia

Mountains, lakes, unspoiled rural life

Highlights

Incredible caves and river canyons

Pure mountain air of the Julian Alps

Discover beautiful Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj

Strong local culture, unchanged for centuries

Spectacular natural landscape

Slovenia's historic capital city, Ljubljana, is the starting point for this journey through one of Europe's most unspoilt and diverse landscapes. Taking in the Julian Alps and the vast underground caves of Skocjan, we meander through flower-filled meadows and along the blue-green shores of Lake Bled. We discover cheese-making, bee-keeping and traditional lace, enjoy spectacular waterfalls and gorges, explore ancient castles and breathe Slovenia's pristine air.

A highlight of this Walk is a boat-trip across Lake Bohinj, in the protected waters of Triglav National Park, where we discover the many myths and legends that surround the mystical Bohinj valley.

Saturday Overnight: Grand Hotel Union

Saturday Overnight: Grand Hotel Union

Meet in Ljubljana and enjoy an aperitif and Introductory Talk at the hotel before our Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant.

Sunday Overnight: Hotel Kendov Dvorec

Drive to Rakov Skocjan, a wonderfully wild and lush karst valley, carved by water over thousands of years. We walk along the riverbank to lunch at a local farm. Then visit the Skocjan Caves, a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Monday Overnight: Hotel Kendov Dvorec

Pass hamlets and farms in an open landscape, then stop for lunch at a local farmhouse in the small village of Ledine. We'll continue to attractive Idrija with its 16th-century castle and famous lace school.

Tuesday Overnight: Bohinj Park Eco Hotel

Walk along River Idrijca to the mysterious Black Lake. A short drive brings us to Cerkno where we visit a secret WWII partisan hospital. After lunch, we drive along the verdant valley to Most na Soci to catch a train on the Transalpina Line, built at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Our modern eco spa hotel has stunning alpine views.

Wednesday Overnight: Bohinj Park Eco Hotel

A ferry takes us to the western end of Lake Bohinj, where the 190ft Savica Waterfall tumbles majestically into the water below. We walk beside the lake, visiting the Museum of Alpine Cheese Making and a 17th-century farmhouse. Hayracks, called ˜toplars' and unique to Slovenia, are scattered across the landscape.

Thursday Overnight: Grand Hotel Toplice

Enjoy grand views of Lake Bled and the surrounding countryside, walking through woods and fields to the river Sava. We visit the medieval Castle of Bled, perched on a rock, with a marvelous, strategic view. Our elegant hotel, with its lakeside views and indoor thermal swimming pool, has been a favorite with politicians and diplomats since the 1800's.

Friday Overnight: Grand Hotel Toplice

Hike to stunning Vintgar Gorge, a 500ft high ravine accessible via a continuous chain of gantries and bridges to a waterfall. We walk on through open countryside and take a late afternoon cruise to Bled Island. Farewell Dinner in our hotel.

Saturday

After breakfast, we return to Ljubljana for our onward connections.

"The guides are very well chosen and make connections we haven't had with other companies"

Terrain: Well-trodden paths, comfortable underfoot, with a wide variety of flat and hilly terrain. 4-10 miles walking per day.

TRIP DETAILS

Dates

Hotels - Where we stay

Grand Hotel Union

Considered to be one of Ljubljana's finest hotels, this hotel is located in a quiet side street but within very easy walking distance of the historic city centre. Formed of 2 separate parts, Business and Executive, the Wayfarers stay in the more historic, Executive part of the hotel which was originally built in 1905 but has been extensively renovated whilst retaining its original architectural style.
The spacious Executive bedrooms are designed in Art-Nouveau style and are well-equipped with ensuite bathroom, hairdryer, cable TV, phone, internet access, air conditioning, minibar and safe. There is a large dining-room which serves breakfast and, on the top floor of the hotel, is a small swimming pool, fitness gym and communal sauna. Massages are available but cannot be pre-booked.

Hotel Kendov Dvorec

Crossing the threshold of the Kendov dvorec ('Kenda Mansion') is like stepping into the past but with all of today's comforts. This truly unique hotel has an extraordinary tranquility, just as if time has stood still. It was originally built in 1377 as a country manor for the Kenda family, locally respected landowners who encouraged and supported economic and cultural growth in the area.
Now extensively renovated, it remains a monument to a bygone era while retaining the warm hospitality of a family home. The ground floor rooms include two very different style dining rooms, 'Jacobova sobana' with its light airy ambience and large windows and 'Hanina sobana' which is a converted stables with rich, wooden decor. Both serve traditional dishes using authentic, well-tried recipies from the area created from local food bought in fresh each day.
The homely ensuite bedrooms are furnished with period furniture from the 19th century and feature fine details like table cloths, curtains and bed linen decorated with the handmade Jdrija lace. Each room is named after a former resident of the Kendov family. All bedrooms offer the usual amenities expected from today's discerning traveller including internet access and guests are welcome to borrow a laptop when available.

Bohinj Park Eco Hotel

Bohinj Park is a 5 star luxury hotel and is the first ecological hotel in Slovenia, designed and built to be 'green'. The location in the heart of the Julian Alps is perfect for access into the National park. Guests have free entry to the spa, health club and swimming pool as well as to the adjacent Aquapark.
All hotel rooms are decorated in warm natural materials. and have a hairdryer, a heated towel rack, a mini-bar, LCD TV, WI-Fi and air-conditioning. The restaurant offers a range of excellent meals from authentic local dishes to international cuisine.

Grand Hotel Toplice

The completely renovated Grand Hotel Toplice is idyllically positioned on the shores of Lake Bled with a spectacular view of the island, the medieval cliff-top castle and the Julian Alps. It is a most delightfully elegant hotel combining traditional appearance and superb quality of service with refined comfort and those wonderful views! Originally built in the early 1850s where thermal springs were discovered and subsequent baths constructed, this luxurious hotel has played host to numerous Kings, Presidents, Government officials and sports celebrities.
Each bedroom has a style of its own with elegant decor, antique furnishings and modern amenities including ensuite bathroom, direct dial phone, cable TV, minbar, hair dryer, safe and internet access. There are several elegant lounges each furnished with attractive period furniture. The appropriately named 'Grand Restaurant' has a superb view of the lake and serves tasty local and international dishes.
The hotel is proud of the range of facilities provided by Luisa Studio Wellness Centre. The focal point is the colonnaded swimming pool, originally built in 1935, which draws on the thermal spring with its health benefits. This well-equipped centre features Finnish, Turkish and Infrared saunas, solarium, gym plus a variety of beauty treatments and massages.

Slovenia Photos

Be it hiking among soaring mountains, taking in some of the world's loveliest unspoiled coastlines or discovering centuries of history in fascinating old towns and cities, we firmly believe that slow travel is the best way to see the world. ~ Michael West, Founder